The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-07-30

cinllyi sinCe sue utterly refuses 10 n0Llcf
him again.
A hunting-partg Is made up for the FOL.
lowing day, and Mr.. Congdon takes good
care that he is not Overlooked IN the ar
rangements,
After All early breakfast the hunters start
off in splendid form; and Dolores stands on
the veranda waving them goodbye, with
as brilliant a light 10 her dark eyes and as
sweet a smile on her lovely lips as tK6tgh
her heart we're not slowly breaking.
A proud; sad, yearning look comes into
those beautiful eyes as they watch Mark
Werner ride away with the rest, sitting his
horse with such proud, manful grace.
sit is his last day here" she thinks, with
bitter, heart-breaking sigh. ''IIe leaves
tonight, and cann6t, dare not, tell him.
Then her glance wanders, against her
will TO the dashing, ,disolule- looking horse
man at his right.
And, as she looks. lie turns inhis saddle,
catches the glitter of her golden hair as the
morning sunlight touches it, and waves her
gay farewell, with his mocking, defiant
smile.
Dolores passes the morning hours dreari-
ly enough with her Heavy heart for COM
pany
She does not expect the hunters to return
before Garkness drives them'iny bmt hours
before that time they do return, a sad and
solemn group, bearing lifeless burden
home.
Dolores has gone to'the veranda to meet
tdem, wondering what could have FASTENED
their return. As they come nearer, she
leans heavily against the railing, and her
face grows white with terror.
Something has happened" she muir
murs family. "Guardyl Mark Oh, Heay-
en-! what can it be9"
But in a minute more she knows,
SIT is Roger Congdon," her guardian
says, riding up and answering the terrified
question in her eyes. ''Poor fcllowl I'm
sorry now that spoke i'll of him. He was
too reckless-had SOME liquor in him, l
think, and did some Of the widest exploits
you ever heard of. Iwarned him, but no
use; and now tho poor fellow is deadr'
Every one sees tIie death-like whiteness
that sweeps oyer the girls beautiful, dark
face; every one notices how she stsggers
and clutches the railing for support; but no
one wonders at it, the horror of il all is
enough to unnerve the strongest man.
1t is only when she sees Mark Werner
leave the grolip and so into the house that
she arouses from her trance-like stuper.
''My Godr' she thinks half wildly, 'he
is going away. l must see him first. IL
can tell him nowr
She finds him alone, pacing up and down
the great, empty draYiIig-room.
"Mr. Werner" she says, stopping at a
little distance and speaking with trembling
haste, 81 know you are going to-day, but
II have something TO tell you first, about
the answer gave You yesterday"
"Welr' he says briefly, with half
scornful smile as he Dauses in his walk to
listen.
'This accideht-dreaifUr as it is--has
left me free to'say what could not say
then, what would never"
lie wheels wheels about and stares at her
blankly, believing that fright has turned
her mind.
'Freei what do you mean, Miss Fen
moreP What could he, that stranger,a "a man
like that, be TO youe'
Everything, yet nothing" she returns,
lifting her golden head with something of
her old pride and decision. "Ide was my
husband. Wait--listeh, Mark Werner, and
then judge me as you will"
Then in disjointed, haltinR sentences she
tells him all her story; how the handsome
adyentmer, who has just met his doom.
lured her from her boarding-school to a Sc
cret marriage years ago when she was bat
fifteen.
How he had soon deserted her, and how
he had come to claim her at last, having
learned Of her social success and her real
standing as the ward and prospective heir
ess OF a wealthy man.
81 was tempted to keep the secret a se--
cret forever" she ends, with stihed sob,
"when' / saw him lying dead. believe
there is no living witness now to that mad
marriage. and the certificate has always
been in my own keeping. Bnt I-could'
not deceive you, Marx, and il you care"
My dariingp' he says, taking one treml
bling hand little hand in his warm clasp.
"Give me exactly the answer now that you
would have given yesterday had you been
just believed you-a maiden 'heart-whole
shd'fsDoY-free